NFL Hall of Fame: Predicting the 2015 class
Jerome Bettis RB (Rams 1993-95, Steelers 1996-2005)
His career ended in perfect fashion: lifting the Lombardi trophy in his hometown of Detroit. Now “The Bus” is hoping to get out of four years worth of traffic on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.
Jerome Bettis is sixth all-time in rushing yards (13,662), fourth in carries (3,479) and 10th in rushing touchdowns (91).
Although he didn’t rush for over 1,000 yards his last four years, Bettis was a key part of the Steelers running game for nearly a decade until Pittsburgh began to start letting him fade into the sunset. In his final season, Bettis ran for just 368 yards with nine touchdowns on 110 carries. Despite the career-low in rushing yards, he ran for 180 yards with three key touchdowns during the Steelers Super Bowl run.
Overall, Bettis ran for 674 yards in the playoffs with nine touchdowns. He never went one-and-done in the playoffs, however didn’t get to a Super Bowl until his final year.
A running back was inducted into the Hall of Fame in two of the last four years (Marshall Faulk in 2011, Curtis Martin in 2012). It’s only fitting that The Bus finally pulls into Canton in 2015.
Besides, fifth time is always a charm.